Babel at Babylonstoren

I have been waiting for ages to visit this restaurant, they are pretty much fully booked every Sunday and now I can see why. Not too far past Stellenbosch is a perfect wine farm called Babylonstoren this farm has it all, animals, garden, food, wine, atmosphere, beautiful venue and great service.

The interior is very clean, crisp and white completely different to the vineyards outside but a perfect match to the simple, clean dishes where most of the ingredients are picked straight from the garden and prepared. The food is very seasonal and one of the few restaurants where I saw Quince and num num berry repeated throughout the dishes.

The first taster of Babel's offerings was the bread, freshly baked, served with the most delicious baked pear marinaded in thyme and olive oil, now I don't like baked or poached fruits very much but this was something I will be making at home with cheese very soon.

We ordered the Voigner, a crisp white wine which went perfectly with my meal. Water is free on the table poured from a tap in the middle of the restaurant.

The menu is fairly small but I still had difficulty choosing as it all sounded really delicious but it being lunch time I had a Franschhoek smoked trout with burnt sage butter, rolled red spinach, quince and something I have never had before is a num num berry which was something like a cross between a cherry tomato and a berry. I often order fish when I want something light and am normally underwhelmed but this dish I would actually return and have it again.

Some other dishes were the Roast Rack of lamb, citrus chardonnay sauce and grilled satsuma.

Roast beef fillet on the bone with anchovy butter, deep fried leek and shiraz sauce

Grilled eggplant in a pizza style with tomatoes, gorgonzola and olives.

Quince and spinach pie with melon salad

Beetroot and turnip carpaccio with num num confit and smoked trout

All the main courses come with a side of the most delicious duck fat roasted potatoes, fine beans in mustard sauce and balsamic roasted beetroot.

I had no space for dessert but they all looked delicious as they whizzed past us from the kitchen and I

was very close to trying the creme Brulee or chocolate fondant, both classic desserts.

I will definitely go back even for their fresh salads and a walk around the vineyards.

Main Courses were between R160 - R180 and our bill came to R300pp

Pictures and article Copyright by Tamsyn Wells